Ideye, who has scored just five goals in 19 games for Nigeria and has managed only 73 in six seasons in European club football, was given the green light to join the Baggies after the Hawthorns club agreed a club record £10million deal with Dynamo Kiev.

The 25-year-old striker, who had spells at Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland and French club Sochaux before his move to Ukraine, does not have a EU passport and failed to meet the appearance threshhold for Nigeria which would have seen the application granted automatically.

But incredibly, despite Dyke promising to toughen up the work permit criteria, something he said could happen ''immediately'' when he launched the process which led to the publication of his Commission report in May , Ideye's application was granted on the basis of his ''exceptional talent''.

In May, at the publication of the Commission findings, Dyke confirmed that many of those interviewed as part of the report had "argued strongly to us that too many mediocre players are getting work visas".

Dyke added: "Our proposal to tighten the entry and appeals criteria for non-EU player immigration will create a necessary constraint that will encourage more considered and valuable player acquisitions from outside the EU.''

But West Brom's acquisition demonstrates Dyke's vows appear little more than hot air as it emerged the previous work permit criteria are STILL in operation.

While the Home Office formally grants work permits for non-EU players, the process is effectively sub-contracted to the FA, whose recommendations are followed.

FA officials insisted last night that moves were in place to toughen up the regulations and that Wembley chiefs were in discussion with their ''stakeholders'', the clubs, Premier League, PFA, LMA and the Government with a determination to tighten up the criteria in the near future.

But it was confirmed that Ideye's permit application was assessed and approved under the regulations Dyke had insisted could be altered ''immediately''.

And that opens the way for other top flight clubs to take advantage of the lack of urgency by the FA High Command and continue to bring in players from outside the EU throughout the rest of tis transfer window at least.